Coastal Oregon

David R.

January 17, 2010 - 5:34 PM

After driving through the rain for a few hours, my roommates and I finally arrived back at our house in Eugene. Another beach trip to Manzanita was a perfect way to spend the long weekend.

We departed for the beach in the early afternoon on Saturday, and as we were leaving, a few of us were debating about the quickest way to the beach. One route ventures up to Portland, and then cuts across to the west, before finally curving back down south for the last small portion of the trip. Another route eliminates the slight back tracking involved in the first route, and takes travelers up to Albany, and to then to the northwest to Manzanita. The majority of us felt that the latter option would be the best way to get there, since we wouldn't be forced to turn back south at any point in time.

After five grueling hours of driving, including two pit stops to ask for directions, we arrived at the beach well after sunset, concluding that the route through Albany was a longer trip than we expected. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing that we were stuck in the car for longer than originally anticipated, because the route we took was much more scenic than going dead straight on I-5. We were able to wind our way through the lush forests of coastal Oregon, seeing a part of the state that few of us had seen before.

We started the evening by walking around the town in search of tasty meal after a long day of traveling. We eventually stumbled upon a new mexican restaurant that was hosting its grand opening. One unique aspect about Manzanita is the noticeable lack of conventional chain restaurants. No McDonalds, no Burger King; nothing but family restaurants owned by the locals. It gives visitors a chance to branch out and experience a restaurant they might not have ever heard of before.

A must-do-activity while visiting the coast is a visit down to the water. As we arrived long after the sun had set, we were forced to take a trek down to the beach with the wind howling and the rain pouring. The Oregon coast in winter displays a very different perspective of the beach scene. When many people think of the beach, they tend to think of the beaches of southern California, where the sun is shining all day, and the average temperature is around 75 degrees. In the Pacific Northwest, the conditions are much different. The village idiot is the one who heads to the water in shorts and a tee-shirt. The wind was gusting at speeds up to 30 mph, while the sound of the waves crashing on to the shore got the adrenaline pumping. I enjoy being in cold weather, and I can't remember the last time I could see my breath standing on the beach.

It is rather convenient to be only a few hours away from a relaxing weekend getaway. With the coast only 50 miles from Eugene, University of Oregon students find that the beach is only a hop, skip and a jump down US 101, the nation's prettiest highway.